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"Oh, honey, it must be so disorienting for you to be faced with such a decision." Zoey touches my shoulder. "I can only imagine how confused you must be feeling."
Tears prick the backs of my eyes, and I blink them away.
"I’m so sorry if our coming here upset you—" Summer begins in a concerned voice, but I wave her off.
"No, really. I am grateful you guys are here. My sister… I’d have loved to talk to her about this, but she needs to focus on her ballet classes. And my father’s unwell and"—I sniffle—"I never managed to form close friendships with the girls I went to school with. That’s what comes of being a loner. I guess it’s because I had to mature before my classmates. While they were acting like kids, I was already a mom to my sister.” I pause. "And then… Felix came along, and he became my best friend. I made the mistake of agreeing to marry him. And now, I don't think we're even friends anymore." My eyes water and I look up at the ceiling to keep the teardrops at bay. "So, although I'm glad he pulled out before we got married, I feel like I've lost my only friend." I take a shuddering breath. “You think you don’t need anyone, and when you realize you do, it’s too late."
They exchange glances, then Zoey takes my glass, places it on the table, and takes my hand in hers. "It’s not too late. We’re here, and we want to be your friends."
"We do." Summer nods.
"Right, because I’m so pitiful. I’m thinking of marrying a man I met three days ago, and I don’t have friends of my own, so I’m crying on the shoulders of perfect strangers, who are his friends.” I swipe at the moisture on my cheek.
Zoey leans forward in her seat. “For what it’s worth, I already know you’re a badass. No one who paints like that”—she stabs a thumb over her shoulders— “isn’t. Also, my instincts never lie. I already know we’re going to be great friends, regardless of whether you marry Quentin or not. And full disclosure? I’d rather you did marry him.”
I incline my head.
“What Zoey is trying to say is that Quentin not so subtly wanted us to come so we could convince you that he's right for you.” Summer half smiles. “And for the record, I firmly think whether you do or not is your decision. But like Zoey, I already know we’re going to be good friends because I like you, and”—Matty kicks at her arm, and she looks down at the baby with a smile— “and yes, so does Matty, as I already told you.”
“Quentin sent you two to convince me of his merits?” I ask slowly.
Zoey shifts in her seat. “He never said it openly. Well, not to me, because he spoke to Summer, and Summer asked me to come along. And I was curious because... Well... In the little time I’ve known Quentin, I thought he was a grouchy bastard who seemed dissatisfied with most things, and to find out he wants to marry you... I was curious.”
“And what do you think now?”
“That you’re too good for him.”
I chuckle. “Thanks.”
“No, really, you are. You’re taking care of your family, and working, and trying to carve out a career in a competitive, creative industry?—”
“I haven’t been painting much,” I remind her.
She cuts her hand through the air. “You’ve been trying, and that’s what matters.”
“I’ve known Quentin since he returned from the Marines and joined the Davenports. He has his faults but”—Summer pauses to gather her thoughts— “but he's the kind of guy you can trust to have your back when the chips are down."
"Not long ago, Karma was unwell.” Summer’s smile dims. “My sister was born with a hole in the heart. The condition was exacerbated when she got pregnant... a second time.” She swallows. “I was with her when she collapsed at my place, less than a month ago. I tried to call her husband, then mine."
Zoey gasps. "Oh, my god, Summer! I had no idea."
Summer nods. "When neither answered, I called Q. And this, despite the fact my husband has six other very close friends and business partners he went to school with. I’ve known them longer than I’ve known Q." Summer pauses to take a deep breath.
"Sinclair and his friends run a company called 7A Investments," Zoey interjects.
"I could have called any of them, but Q's the person I reached out to.” Summer’s voice grows contemplative. “Something about him inspires confidence, and it's not about his age. Well, not only. He feels so solid. Like he’s seen life, and he knows what to do in an emergency, you know?”
I nod dumbly. I know what she means. It’s the same feeling that gripped me when my eyes met his. Oh, there was lust, certainly. But also, this something inside of me that insisted he’d take care of me.
“He happened to be working from home that day. Luckily, he doesn't live far from me and Karma. He dropped everything and arrived at our place as she was being loaded into the ambulance. I got in with her, and he followed us to the hospital. He stayed with me until Sinclair and Michael arrived. If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know how I’d have survived.” She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye. “He and Karma have had a special relationship ever since. And her husband and mine trust him even more.”
“That’s”—I clear my throat—“quite a story.”
“I’m not telling you this to influence you— Okay, maybe I am.” Summer laughs. “But I’m grateful for Q. I trust him. And if you want to marry him, I’d say follow your instinct.”
“Okay, wow, I didn’t know about that incident.” Zoey stares at Summer wide-eyed. “It explains why he’s so tight with you guys.”
“All I'm saying is, don’t judge him until you’ve given him a chance to share his side of the story.” Summer smiles gently.
